In a bid to further bolster healthcare delivery system of the State, enabling people at large to avail accessible and affordable care in hassle free manner, the Punjab Government has launched mega health insurance scheme.

The scheme called ‘Mahatma Gandhi Sarbat Sehat Bima Yojana’ has clubbed both Centre’s Ayushman Bharat and existing insurance scheme of the State, benefitting 46 lakh families—around 76 per cent of the state’s population.

Going by the last Socio Economic and Caste Census (SECC), Ayushman Bharat would have covered only 14.86 lakh families while the scheme in its new form, will benefit a total of 46 lakh families, an official statement said.

The scheme has similar provision of Rs 5 Lakh insurance coverage like the original PMJAY.

The Centre and the state government will bear the cost of the annual premium for 14.86 lakh families in the ratio of 60:40. For the remaining beneficiaries, the Punjab government will bear the entire expense, a press release said.

The scheme with 1,396 treatment packages will be implemented through over 450 empanelled hospitals, including 200 government hospitals.

Surgical packages under the scheme also include pre-hospitalisation expenses for three days and for a 15-day post-hospitalisation period, the release said.

The chief minister said Punjab has become the first state to offer medical insurance for such a large proportion of its population.